46 ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



who can school his own horse, for he will require 

 none ; and I feel certain that a horse that has been 

 trained according to the method I advocate will 

 neither bolt nor run away. 



Stumbling}- Every rider knows that a horse 

 moving in a slow and languid pace is much more 

 apt to fall after a stumble than when ridden briskly. 

 The low action of the slow movement multiplies 

 the chances of tripping ; but the falls will be due 

 to the fact that, in the disunited and slovenly 

 manner in which the horse goes, the other legs 

 have not been carried far enough under the mass 

 to support the centre of gravity after a leading leg 

 has struck against an obstacle. 



Some horses are constantly knocking their toes 

 against obstacles, and yet never come down ; whilst 

 a horse that raises his feet like a Clydesdale may 

 carry his certificate of character upon his broken 

 knees. That is, a horse that travels low may 

 carry himself in a safe and collected manner ; and 

 the animal that has a high mode of going may 

 really bear himself so disunitedly that if he trip he 

 must come down. 



The horse is less secure upon his feet in a walk 

 than in a trot ; more apt to stumble in the trot than 



1 I contributed this paper to the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 

 and, through the courtesy of its editor, I am permitted to use it here. 



